Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

With a direction in mind, Conan and Heiji Hattori swiftly took action, and unsurprisingly, they soon made a discovery. They found the elder living in this place, and pretending as if they had already discovered the truth, they schemed for a moment. As expected, the elder quickly revealed the actual situation.

However, this truth was shocking to Conan and the others — it turns out that, on the entire island, aside from the young people, anyone of older age knew that Longevity Granny was disguised by Kimi Shima’s family. Moreover, they were all well aware that it wasn’t a mermaid who died accidentally in the warehouse fire three years ago, but Kimi Shima’s mother.

In fact, the island residents wanted to find Kimi Shima and tell her she didn’t need to continue anymore. But.........

”Seeing Kimie, who portrayed herself as Longevity Granny and appeared before us again, we just couldn’t bring ourselves to say it...”

Upon hearing the villagers’ response, Heiji Hattori and Conan were struck silent, completely unsure of what to say. After discovering the truth, they felt the entire affair was nothing but an absurd drama, with Kimi Shima persistently playing the role of Longevity Granny to maintain the lives of everyone on the island. And, out of the unwillingness to undermine her efforts and due to their own livelihood concerns, the island inhabitants tacitly accepted it, making it seem like a silent farce where both parties were aware yet believed the other was in the dark.

At this point, things were almost entirely clear!

After confirming this information with the villagers, Heiji Hattori eagerly brought Conan back to the hotel.

”Hey, listen to me!”

However, just as they were rushing upstairs, suddenly, from not far within a room, they heard a soft moan from Ran.

”Ah...uh...it’s not going to work anymore...”

”............?”

Upon hearing this sound, both Heiji Hattori and Conan paused, but before they could come to their senses, Kazuha’s voice also echoed.

”Me too...can’t take it anymore...please, Mr. Fang Zheng, spare me, it’s so big...so thick...can’t fit...sob...”

But in the next moment, Kazuha’s plea turned into a sobbing sound.

”What are you doing!”

At this point, Heiji Hattori couldn’t hold it anymore and rushed over, pulling open the door, then he saw Ran collapsed on the floor, panting, while Kazuha sat at the table with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. Opposite her, Fang Zheng was stuffing a large, thick Ehomaki Roll into Kazuha’s mouth...

”............what exactly are you doing?”

Seeing this, Heiji Hattori and Conan were stunned.

”Nothing much.”

Seeing them return, Fang Zheng also clapped his hands.

”We were playing cards, and whoever loses eats a piece of snack.”

”I am never playing cards with Mr. Fang Zheng again...”

Right then, Ran, slumped on the floor, held onto her stomach in visible discomfort.

”This is simply cheating...”

”I agree. Just by looking at their expression, you can tell what cards they have, how can we play like this...”

Kazuha also dejectedly placed her cards on the table. Initially, when Fang Zheng suggested stripping, they definitely refused, then he tactfully changed it to the loser must eat a snack. Both Ran and Kazuha naturally didn’t oppose this, instead felt they benefitted, but little did they know Fang Zheng executed a double kill, leaving them defenseless. Snack after snack was stuffed into their mouths like feeding pigs; initially, the two enjoyed eating, but now...

”I, I can’t eat anymore.”

”Me neither.........”

”Oh.”

Seeing the two raise their arms in surrender, Fang Zheng shook his head, tossing his cards on the table.

”If you can’t handle even this little, it shows your appetite is small.”

”This is not a matter of appetite, Mr. Fang Zheng!”

Upon hearing this, Ran was thoroughly speechless.

”Hehe.”

Seeing the two girls in misery, Fang Zheng just chuckled, though Ran was indeed popular, it didn’t mean he’d show leniency, after all, even showing compassion wouldn’t make them his women, why not simply tease them a bit for fun.

”Honestly, you all seem to be having fun.”

Upon hearing the girls’ complaints, Heiji Hattori and Conan were speechless, but soon enough, Heiji Hattori changed the topic.

”Never mind, let’s not talk about this, we actually obtained some very useful information!”

As he spoke, Heiji Hattori enthusiastically explained the information he and Conan had gathered to the two, leaving the girls equally shocked.

”Longevity Granny is actually Miss Kimi Shima in disguise?”

”And the islanders actually knew long ago?”

”That’s right!”

Heiji Hattori proudly snapped his fingers.

”According to the information we retrieved, those who are older on this island actually know about this matter, only the young ones are unaware. This also explains why Monshaku Saori’s father would casually sell that Dugong Arrow and appear indifferent about it. And why Monshaku Saori was so frantic after losing the arrow, because if she knew Longevity Granny was Kimi Shima in disguise, she certainly wouldn’t panic like this.”

”But what does this have to do with Miss Monshaku Saori and others’ death?”

Ran then voiced her question.

”There’s no way the three discovered Miss Kimi Shima’s secret of disguising as Longevity Granny, and therefore were silenced, right?”

”This.........”

Faced with Ran’s inquiry, both Heiji Hattori and Conan were at a loss, they had only been immersed in the excitement of uncovering a major secret, as for whether this secret was related to the incident or not, now it seemed... not necessarily!

”Anyway, why don’t we talk to Miss Kimi Shima first.”

At this time, Fang Zheng also set down his teacup and stood up.

”Let her know that the islanders actually know that Longevity Granny is her in disguise, as for whether she’s the murderer, we can assess the situation and inquire later. At least it’s better than this absurd and pathetic situation now.”

”Exactly, that’s what I think too.”

Hearing this, Ran also quickly stood up; she had a kind heart, and after hearing Conan’s explanation, she felt deep sympathy for Kimi Shima’s current situation. The others didn’t say much either, including Conan and Heiji Hattori, as they too were merely suspecting Kimi Shima possibly killed Monshaku Saori and others, but without motive, means, or evidence, they couldn’t conclude anything.

They weren’t like Kogoro Mouri, the befuddled detective.

Soon, the group arrived at the Shrine again and met with Kimi Shima.

”May I ask your reason for visiting?”

”Yes, Miss Kimi Shima, we have some matters we’d like you and Longevity Granny to confirm.”

Looking at Kimi Shima before them, Fang Zheng smiled slightly and spoke.

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s request, Kimi Shima nodded.

”Alright, please wait a moment, I’ll call Granny.”

Next, Kimi Shima led the group to the living room, then left. After quite a while, the group heard the sound of a cane tapping the ground, and a frail old lady appeared before them.

”Cough, cough, may I ask... what do you want with this old lady?”

The elderly woman who appeared looked significantly old, with dull skin and spiritless eyes, white hair. Her small stature seemed no bigger than Conan. While Kimi Shima, who appeared earlier, was a tall, sweet-tempered beauty; frankly, even knowing the truth, the group found it unbelievable, unable to imagine how Kimi Shima turned herself into such a petite elderly woman.

If this wasn’t makeup, then it was surely transformation!

Watching this scene, Fang Zheng also sighed.

”It must be hard on you, Miss Kimi Shima, coming out in this attire to meet us must be uncomfortable.”

”............”

Upon hearing this, Longevity Granny glanced at Fang Zheng.

”.........what do you mean?”

”I just said.”

Unlike Conan and Heiji Hattori who would lay out evidence for others to admit themselves, Fang Zheng simply laid it out bluntly.

”We want to confirm something with Miss Kimi Shima and Longevity Granny face to face. And now that Longevity Granny is here, where is Miss Kimi Shima? I hope you can both appear in front of me. If you can’t...”

”That means I’m just pretending then.”

At this moment, the previously hunched Longevity Granny suddenly straightened her back, and her voice changed from raspy to its original crisp and sweet tone. Upon hearing this voice, Ran and Kazuha were stunned.

”Miss Kimie?!”

”Yes, that’s me.”

As she spoke, Kimi Shima reached out and tore off the mask on her face... Hmm, this trick seems to have also been used by Phantom Thief Kid; it appears there are quite a few people skilled in disguise.

Meanwhile, Kimi Shima lifted her garment, and everyone saw that her legs were completely joined together, meaning Miss Kimi Shima was actually using her knees to support herself on the ground. Her calves were bent and adhered behind her, coupled with the crutches used for balancing, allowing her to contract her body and play the role of a much shorter elderly woman than she actually was.

Kimi Shima undid the leather buckle that bound her legs, then tore off the fake leather gloves and white wig from her hands. Soon, a young woman wearing Longevity Granny’s clothes appeared before everyone.

”Not bad, quite impressive.”

Fang Zheng also clapped his hands.

”Honestly, I think your disguise skills are much better than Phantom Thief Kid’s.”

”Uh...”

Upon hearing this, Heiji Hattori and Conan were speechless.

”Thank you for the compliment.”

Facing Fang Zheng’s praise, Kimi Shima responded with a sweet smile.

”I was the special effects makeup artist for the film club during my university years. The movies we made even won gold awards. I’m quite confident in my makeup skills. However, you all still saw through me... May I ask, what exactly made you suspect me?”

”It’s simple.”

Fang Zheng replied candidly to Kimi Shima.

”The villagers told me.”

”...Eh?”

Kimi Shima’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

”On the night when Monshaku Saori and the other two had their accident, I heard a villager say, ’It’s fortunate that the accident didn’t happen to Kimie, otherwise there wouldn’t be a festival next year’...”

Speaking here, Fang Zheng looked at Kimi Shima.

”Miss Kimi Shima, you should know what this means, right?”

”This...”

At this moment, Kimi Shima was stunned and speechless. At the same time, Heiji Hattori continued.

”Moreover, we also confirmed with the villagers, finding out that besides the younger generation, the other elderly residents on the island actually knew long ago that you were pretending to be Longevity Granny. They also knew that three years ago, your mother died in the fire. Back then, they considered being completely honest with you but upon seeing you desperately playing the role of Longevity Granny, they...”

”...”

Kimi Shima didn’t speak. She merely stared dazedly at everyone, tears continuously streaming down from her eyes as she murmured to herself.

”...So, they knew all along... Then what was my effort all these three years for? What am I actually doing? I...”

Speaking until here, Kimi Shima seemed to realize her loss of composure, reached out to wipe her tears, then lifted her head again with a bitter smile.

”Looks like, indeed, no secret can last forever. The ridiculous part is, I thought I could keep going like this.”

”Miss Kimie...”

Seeing Kimi Shima in pain and distress, Ran wanted to say something, but she didn’t know how to express it. Kimi Shima shook her head, closed her eyes, calmed herself for a moment, then took a deep breath and looked at everyone.

”You came here for Saori and the others, right?”

Upon hearing this, Conan and Heiji Hattori immediately perked up.

”Indeed, I hate them very much, to the point of wishing them dead...”

Following this, Kimi Shima also completely confessed her grudge with Monshaku Saori and others. It turned out that the fire three years ago was not an accident, but deliberately set by Monshaku Saori and her companions to confirm if Longevity Granny was truly immortal!

”Even then, when my mother called me, she told me to continue pretending to be Longevity Granny and make efforts for the island. I always took this as my mother’s last words and acted seriously upon them, until a week ago when Saori suddenly found me, asking for another Dugong Arrow. That’s when I learned the truth behind the disaster from her...”

While speaking, Kimi Shima’s hand clenched tightly.

”That was no accident. They killed my mother! They locked her in the warehouse and burned her alive! Every time I think about what happened then, I just feel incredibly angry!”

”So you killed them?”

Heiji Hattori stared fiercely at Kimi Shima, asking, while Kimi Shima smiled bitterly and shook her head.

”Honestly, I really thought about killing them. I even planned a scheme for them to die after the Mermaid Festival. But... I didn’t get the chance to act, no, I should say I acted but...”

”...?”

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged puzzled glances.

If she acted, she acted; if she didn’t, she didn’t. What kind of nonsense is this?

”Have you heard of Hell Correspondence?”

At this time, Kimi Shima inquired again, and everyone shook their heads, but this time Kazuha seemed to recall something.

”Ah, I’ve heard of it; it’s a website, right?”

”What website?”

Faced with Kazuha’s words, Heiji Hattori was baffled while Kazuha hurriedly introduced it to him.

”It’s an urban kaidan, a legend where you enter a URL at midnight exactly, then you’ll enter a site called Hell Correspondence. As long as you leave a message saying who you want to kill, that person will disappear into Hell...”

Speaking here, Kazuha suddenly thought of something, and her face turned pale as she looked at Kimi Shima.

”No way?”

”Yes.”

Kimi Shima nodded.

”The day I found out the truth from Saori, I was extremely angry, so I thought of this urban legend. I opened that site and left a message about my situation on it — of course, it was just a momentary lapse on my part. The next day, I thought I shouldn’t rely on such odd urban legends, so I decided to find an opportunity to lure Saori out and kill her, but...”

Speaking here, Kimi Shima seemed to recall something and couldn’t help but shiver.

”After that, I couldn’t reach Saori, and shortly afterwards, I received a phone call with a very ominous girl’s voice saying to me, ’They will flow to Hell with your resentment...’ Then, I realized that Saori, Sumi, and Naoko were all missing.”

”...”

There was silence in the living room, a deathly silence, Ran tightly clutched onto Conan, while Kazuha was so frightened she grabbed onto Heiji Hattori’s arm.

Even Heiji Hattori involuntarily swallowed a gulp of saliva.

”Do you have evidence for what you’re saying...?”

”No.”

Kimi Shima shook her head.

”I once checked with the telephone company for records, but there were no records of calls made to me at that time, and I couldn’t open the website either...”

Speaking here, Kimi Shima chuckled.

”And I also remember, that girl told me ’A lie remains a lie, just as their hidden truth will one day be exposed’... Now it seems, this was obviously meant for me.”

”Wait, Sister Kimie, you said the person who called you was a girl?”

This time Conan quickly asked, and Kimi Shima nodded.

”Yes, judging from the voice, she’s younger than Ran and them, probably middle school age? But her voice was very deep, very distinctive, sounded... honestly, not much like a living person’s voice.”